Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Admission and Mortality Among Patients With Severe Emergency Diseases at Emergency Departments in Korea in 2020: Registry Data From the National Emergency Department Information System
10.3346/jkms.2023.38.e243
- Author:
Sun Kyoung NA
1
;
Jeung-Hee KIM
;
Weon-Young LEE
;
Mi Ra OH
Author Information
1. Department of Healthcare, Graduate School of Nursing & Health Professions, Chung-Ang University, Seoul, Korea
- Publication Type:Brief Communication
- From:Journal of Korean Medical Science
2023;38(30):e243-
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:English
-
Abstract:
We aimed to investigate the impact of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic on admissions of patients with acute myocardial infarction, stroke, and severe trauma, and their excess mortality in emergency departments (EDs) in South Korea using registry data from the National Emergency Department Information System (NEDIS) for patients attending EDs of regional and local emergency medical centers. During the outbreak period of 2020, there were 350,698 ED visits, which was lower than the total in 2019 (392,627 visits).Multiple logistic regression revealed that, compared with 2019, there was significantly higher ED mortality rate during the COVID-19 outbreak in 2020 (adjusted odds ratio, 1.10;95% confidence interval, 1.07–1.13). This finding implies that during the early outbreak period, people might have avoided seeking medical care even for acute and life-threatening conditions, or transfer times at the scene to the hospital arrival were delayed, or treatment for the patients in EDs were delayed.
